Your First Motorcycle Was a ............?

'Keen observation...

"Group chats" seem to be a big thing with the younger crowed I know
I don't know why, or how they have the time to keep up on those. I joined some chats on a few different platforms, but if I didn't check the chat in real time, I'd miss a huge chunk of the discussion by the time I did and wonder what they were talking about. So I'd end up back-scrolling through loads of useless (to me) chat I had no interest in to begin with. With forums, I can skip topics I have no interest in. Do kids' brains really work that differently now?
 
I don't know why, or how they have the time to keep up on those. I joined some chats on a few different platforms, but if I didn't check the chat in real time, I'd miss a huge chunk of the discussion by the time I did and wonder what they were talking about. So I'd end up back-scrolling through loads of useless (to me) chat I had no interest in to begin with. With forums, I can skip topics I have no interest in. Do kids' brains really work that differently now?
Just never put your phone down amd you won't get behind. :/ you spend too much time on real world stuff like work and bikes.
 
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Is that a Rickman fairing that you got there?
The KZ650 was a solid ride.
I lusted after a Kawasaki 650C, the silver one with mags and triple discs in high school, there were tons of nice used ones for sale in 79-80. However, by that time Kawasaki, Suzuki and Honda had really upped their game in the 750 class. I ended up getting the brand new 1980 GS750(first year of 16 valve engine). I had numerous opportunities to ride all three. The Kawasaki was definitely the lightest and fastest. The Honda was the nicest looking, had the best fit and finnish but unfortunately was the slowest of the three. My Suzuki was right in the middle. I’m surprised how many of those 4 bikes(including the Kawasaki 650C) still turn up for sale in decent condition for around $2000. A testament to their durability.
 
I think the whole short-form writing / texting thing, and in some (many, sadly?) cases where some kids just don't have the ability to write proper sentence structure has a lot to do with this.

This is rife in my workplace where written reports are a daily thing...
We have supposedly university educated people here who are borderline illiterate compared to the "older" cohort of staff.
I don't know how the hell some of these young people made it through university writing like a 5th grader...
Often these reports end up in court. It's embarrassing
 
Any group or forum is going to be defined mainly by the people that participate in it, not by the medium or platform it's on.

One web forum I used to frequent turned into a political-crapfest, no moderation whatsoever, so politics quickly over-ran the board. A vibrant community of over 1000 users reduced to 2 people posting Trump-Is-A-Great-Man-Others-Are-Not memes and LOLing at each others posts for the last 5 years. A literal echo chamber of TWO PEOPLE...!

Something I hope never happens to GTAM.

A lot of the well-moderated FB motorcycle groups that I've added are super-informative and the critical mass of users leads to good group-think around solutions. The model-specific groups also let users share issues with their bikes despite the manufacturer responding with the stock: "Oh, that's an interesting problem. You're the ONLY one who's reported that". Like the chocolate cams issue with the 790s and 890s.

Not to say there aren't brain-dead FB groups as well. There's a GTA motorcycle riders FB group that I pop my head into once in a while. Then I pop my head back out almost immediately because my eyes have have rolled back so hard they've hit the back of my skull at some of the sheer stupidity.

Just recently, someone put up a Rider Down post on that group. So many, "It's winter, nobody should be riding their motorcycle! Serves them right!" posts in response was disheartening. These are FELLOW MOTORCYCLE RIDERS.

WTF.

I started wondering where the admins were. Then realized the first person who responded with, "It's winter, he deserves it."... WAS the admin.

Yeah. Imma peace outta that sh!tshow.

I got better things to do in the wintertime.

Like ride my motorcycle...

snow23-X2.jpg
 
Aside from this one the best brand specific forum has been StromTrooper.
Had a superb mod in Grey Wolf and he was sorely missed when he passed.

There are a couple of casual mcycle forums I drop in on.....model specific
ADVRider has been a long term fav.
A few general chat forums that are far far down in participation compared to the heyday.

This is the latest discovery Straight Dope Message Board - Your direct line to thousands of the smartest, hippest people on the planet, plus a few total dipsticks. since 1973. Very ecletic, members from around the world and interesting interface. No motorcycles.
 
Just recently, someone put up a Rider Down post on that group. So many, "It's winter, nobody should be riding their motorcycle! Serves them right!" posts in response was disheartening. These are FELLOW MOTORCYCLE RIDERS.

WTF.

I started wondering where the admins were. Then realized the first person who responded with, "It's winter, he deserves it."... WAS the admin.

Yeah. Imma peace outta that sh!tshow.

I got better things to do in the wintertime.

Like ride my motorcycle...

snow23-X2.jpg

That gtariders Facebook group is a **** show...

That admin is also a bike instructor...

I agree that it was a stupid thing to ride with a passenger in the middle of the winter, but "deserves it..."??? Was b.s. many Facebook groups are an echo chamber of stupidity. Everyone has an opinion,and shares it freely with no consequence.

I believe if you wouldn't say it to their face for fear of being punched in the head, you probably shouldn't post it on Facebook.

The whole "anonymous poster" thing becomes annoying too.

And the lack of using the search function...
-Whats the best oil?
-Why does my bike make this noise, does this sound okay?

Sent from my SM-G960W using Tapatalk
 
I lusted after a Kawasaki 650C, the silver one with mags and triple discs in high school, there were tons of nice used ones for sale in 79-80. However, by that time Kawasaki, Suzuki and Honda had really upped their game in the 750 class. I ended up getting the brand new 1980 GS750(first year of 16 valve engine). I had numerous opportunities to ride all three. The Kawasaki was definitely the lightest and fastest. The Honda was the nicest looking, had the best fit and finnish but unfortunately was the slowest of the three. My Suzuki was right in the middle. I’m surprised how many of those 4 bikes(including the Kawasaki 650C) still turn up for sale in decent condition for around $2000. A testament to their durability.
I had a C with cast wheels too. The Kawi was also the best looking.
 
To the original question:

1985 Yamaha FJ600. It was beat... 13 owners before me. Bought from a friend.

Suspension was knackered.

Clutch slipped.

I didn't know how to fix ****.

Learned to do bodywork. Paint. General maintenance. Rode it for a year or two. Sold it to a friend. It was a gateway drug, and a good learning experience.

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